Plato. Dialogues

The play uses works translated from Ancient Greek: Plato’s Symposium and Apology of Socrates (translated by Merkelis Račkauskas), Republic (translated by Jonas Dumčius), and Gorgias (translated by Tatjana Aleknienė), as well as passages from Xenophon’s Memorabilia of Socrates (translated by Vanda Kazanskienė) and Aristophanes’ Frogs (translated by Antanas Dambrauskas).

This is a production by young director Motiejus Ivanauskas, based on the thoughts and discussions of his teacher Socrates as recorded by Plato. Motiejus Ivanauskas, who recently graduated in acting from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, says: “Many things show that a ‘golden mean’ is often important in life—in other words, a balance between two opposing poles. This applies to psychology and politics, as well as to the structure of a new production. What draws attention in ‘Dialogues’ is that Socrates’ teachings seem to clearly urge us to pursue ‘eternal values and virtues’—the cultivation of wisdom, moderation and willpower—yet at the same time we sense the ‘free’ atmosphere of Ancient Greece and Socrates’ ironic attitude towards himself, his interlocutors and the reflections he proposes. This immediately puts us in a positive frame of mind, because Socrates does not consider himself all-knowing; he simply brings certain issues to the surface, whereupon they become clear to everyone.”

Socrates, the central character in “Dialogues,” will be played by Vytautas Anužis. He would tell his contemporaries bluntly what he thought of them and their actions, and support his reasoning with sound arguments, often leaving his interlocutors frustrated when they realised they could no longer object. Nevertheless, Motiejus Ivanauskas says he has no desire to create a didactic work or use Socrates’ wisdom as a standard of truth (Socrates himself would probably have disagreed, having said more than once, “I know that I know nothing”). A more compelling approach seems to be to let the episodes simply “drift” among the audience, leaving them free to laugh, disagree or perhaps agree.

The form of “Dialogues” is particularly well suited to theatre. As is well known, when talking with people, Socrates would ask precise questions that led his interlocutor to see clearly that they were contradicting themselves and to admit they had been wrong. The somewhat archaic manner of these dialogues may sound exotic, but it offers an opportunity to perceive—and, once perceived, to emphasise—the comic side of Socrates’ conversations.

The production is participating in the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania’s Culture Pass programme.